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Powerwolf are getting quite well-known in their home country, with a Metal Blade deal and tour dates with Candlemass, but they don't seem to be making an impression outside Europe, which is a shame, as this is a hugely entertaining band. Powerwolf are from Germany, sporting a few members of Flowing Tears and friends indulging in pure, shameless hard-rocking Heavy Metal.

Rarely have I heard such blatant, lip-smacking cheese done so well. A glance at the song titles will tell you this band isn't taking things too seriously, but that doesn't mean they aren't good. Right away they hit you with "We Take It From The Living" - big guitars, bit choruses, and a monstrous production job. The riffs on here are heavy and catchy, with some great leads. The vocals are powerful and soaring with a lot of charisma, belting out over-the-top lyrics that are like odes to shlocky Hammer Horror movies. "Prayer In The Dark" kicks ass, as well as the fiendishly catchy "Saturday Satan" and "Behind The Leathermask". Other standouts include "When The Moon Shines Red" and the pummeling "Tiger Of Sabrod". There are just hooks everywhere on this album, and even as you are feeling kind of stupid for liking it, you will sing along and air guitar like an idiot.

So this is not a serious album, but talent and energy just comes spilling out all over the place. Say what you will about the silly lyrics, but Powerwolf kick ass on this album, and sometimes that's all you want. A shameless album that may well define 'guilty pleasure' for metalheads. Don't miss it.